Category Archives: Car Models

So where is the new test track for our friends, Jeremy, James and the Hamster? It’s RAF Wroughton, just outside of Swindon, which hasn’t been used by the Royal Air Force for decades now. It still has two fully-maintained runways, along with a few hangars, as well as an old lady’s house. These days, it also houses a science museum, a karting track (!), and now, The Grand Tour.

Whereas the old Top Gear test track was simply known as the Top Gear test track, The Grand Tour is calling this iteration “the Eboladrome,” because it’s shaped like Ebola. Clarkson referred to its location as “top secret,” but the trivia feed on Amazon said that “if you’re quite interested, it’s near Swindon.”

The show apparently filmed there back in October, according to local news outlet Swindon24. Our first look at it came last night, with new non-Stig and former NASCAR driver Mike Skinner thrashing a BMW M2 around the track.

The once-and-current Top Gear test track was at Dunsfold Aerodrome, also a former RAF base, just outside Surrey.

Mercedes-AMG is coming to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2017.

Mercedes-Benz USA and Mercedes-AMG unveiled their plans on Wednesday morning to join the IMSA WeatherTech Championship. Riley Motorsports will race two Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars in the GT Daytona class.

One of the team’s cars will run as AMG-Team Riley Motorsports, and the other as WeatherTech Racing.

Additional teams are expected to race the Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars as customer teams.

“We are thrilled to see the three-pointed star compete in North America’s premier endurance racing series in 2017,” said Dietmar Exler, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. “Our Mercedes-AMG GT3 race car has already proven itself in worldwide competition and should quickly become a fan favorite. We are very excited about our prospects for the 2017 racing season.”